The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1887-04-07
TRICKS OF SMUGGLERS.
METHODS OF INTRODUCING PRECIOUS GEMS
INTO THE UNITED STATES.

1t was stated few months ago in an
American paper that a rich mans wife
wore upon her neck and breast every
evening precious stones to the value of
10000, other ladies displaying jewels to
a lesser amount. Nor are American
ladies free from the charge of smuggling:
many of them. indeed, are adopts at the
business, able to impart a secret or two
to the professionals. During recent
Saratoga season one lady was heard 10
boast that she had brought over a suit Of
diamonds in the heels OF several pairs Of
slippers which she had made on purpose
70 contain them. These dainty articles
were Ostentatiously displayed and taken
notice of by the searchers; but the heels
were not suspected to be hollow or TO
contain diamonds. HOllow-heeled boots
were at one time greatly in use as a part
OF the smuggling machinery That mode
of carrying on the Illicit traffic was
ultimately discovered by an under steward
of an American liner, who, for a consider
alton, communicated the secret to the
cUstom-house authorities Then followed
q series of contrivances in the shape of
double bOttomed trunks, valises with
secret pockets. desks with inside drawers,
and guns and pistols which were so con-
trIyed as to contain a few OF the much
coveted gems. All these contrivances
were in turn discovered; they We're lust
the kind of cOnCealments which the
officers had their thoughts fixed upon.
Just as the customs authorities we're
under the impression that they had sup
pressed the ILLICIT traffic new era in
gem smuggling was lnaugurated. and
more diamonds entered the United States
duty free than before SMUGGLING. IL
may 6e said, developed into fine art: at
all events, the incidence of the trade for
brief period became so simple as 10
seem like child's play; indeed, children
were made to play an important part in
the business. A story which lately be-
came public shows how well the modern
diamond smugglers had iald to heart
Poe's precepts. please TO hold my baby
while my husband helps me 10 open my
trunks: he will be quite good if YOU will
shake bls rattle said a lady passenger
70 the officer who WAS waiting to look
over her travelling gear. And that officer
EOOd-humOredly did as he was requested.
shaking the rattle. 10 the great delight
OF the little one. The rattle in question.
which, fastened to a ribbon. was tied TO
the chIid's wrist, was filed with GEMS of
the time was too simple for detection.
4 clever woman, attired in the costume
OF a SISTER OF Mercy, was passed over by
the officers because she had no luggage
worth examining. She possessed, how
ever, tine string OF beads, which, with
doWncast eyes, she kept telling. Safe on
L"ud, she was aItecuonatoly welcomed by
Two persons dressed in costumes similar
to her own. Need ii be told that she WAS
a smugglcr, and that her beads were so
constructed that each held q diamond
weighing seven or eight carats? Another
ingenious person hit upon the plan of
placing lew precious stones In TOW
kaleidoscope, which had been given to a
chald, no carried ii ashore in safety. 4
number Of homing pigeons, kept in cages
and purchased at a village in Belgium
and brought TO the United States bv the
! way 81 Paris and Hayre, also PLAYED
| prohtabie part, each pigeon being freight
ed with cargo OF eXquisit gems con-
cealed IN qulls and carefully fastened 10
the message-bcarin, dove. An extensive
system OF diamond smuggling was at one
time carried on from Canadian ground
by the aid of homing pigeons. The dis
covery OF this illicit trade was made
accidentally by farmer who happened
to shoot one of the birds, and on examin
ing 1t found that there was fastened to its
legs gull containing a number OF dfa-
monds. A clew being obtained, the local
| habitatlon of the pigeon proprietors was
| discovered and their mode of business
put an end to. The scheme, stated
simply, was to fly every week or ten days
flock Of dozen or fifteen pigeons, each
carrying about half dozen gems. As
! the duty on diamonds amounts to 10 per
cent the trouble taken to smuggle these
gems into the United States does not
seem very remarkable. The value Of those
honestly imported INTO the States is
! between SS,0OO000 and S9,OO0,G00 per
annnm, and it has been calculated tkat
gems to half that sum escape payment Of
the duty. ChJmdels' JOuTHm